Clawhammer Banjo - Three Different Right Hand Approaches

[Rick0125]

First time I've seen this video since I 've been trying to learn clawhammer... Anyway very good instruction and helpful. thanks

[writerrad]

Going with one approach at the start makes it hrd to put it the rhythmic variety a player wants once she or he starts listening to real old time banjoist or wanting to make their own real muisc. In fact i think a beginner should learn to play the bump diddy, the drop thumb, and double thumbing at the start, rather than wait to learn bump diddy first

[BlueSageBand]

@writerrad Tony! Good to hear from you...

I couldn't agree more. My basic teaching philosophy is to encourage my students to get familiar with every technique associated with down-picking, and then decide what NOT to use for any particular piece. I drives me crazy when I hear of teachers telling their students not to bother with certain techniques because they won't need them for "Old-Time music". Modern banjoists should be as willing to experiment as their 1800s counterparts... Mike

[writerrad]

tHIS IS WONDERFUL. I am trying to put together a lesson package for a friend of mine who is a long time musician in jazz and blues who is learning the banjo. My biggest problem learning the banjo is the my way or the high way fanatics who think all there is is one way of playing down picking , when most developed players learn to play a variety of ways,

[TheJimKeith]

Oh i thought Saga since you listed a Saga Pony at one time as being one of your banjos and i guess now i know where they got the idea for their peg head inlay. thanks.

[TheJimKeith]

What kind of Banjo are you playing?

i know it's a Saga but which model and what sort of nylon strings are you using? i ask because i would like to go to nylon strings but don't want to go to a low tuning. i am recommending this video to everyine i know interested in clawhammer banjo, beginner or not.

[BlueSageBand]

Jim, it's actually a S. S. Stewart banjeaurine built in the early 1890's. I've got it strung with standard nylgut strings and tune it to C - GCFG (like a standard sized banjo in "G" tuning capoed at the fifth fret). I like the "music box" tone quality this banjo produces. You can hear it again on my youtube video of the "Lonesome Roving Wolves"... Mike

[TheJimKeith]

What kind of Banjo are you playing?

i know it's a Saga but which model and what sort of nylon strings are you using? i ask because i would like to go to nylon strings but don't want to go to a low tuning.

[TheJimKeith]

What kind of Banjo are you playing?

[spunkygal76]

I have noticed in a lot of these tutorials that you guys sound like you are tuned differently. What tune are you in?

[Robin18us]

Best clawhammer instructions I've seen online. Nice job and thank you.

[underkill2811]

Thanks for the enlightening video Mike. I have a question on the middle vs. the index. My middle feels more natural, but seems to not get a good consistent ring like when I use my index. I think my index is more callused but it just seems weird. Any thoughts?

[brummeister1]

okay...I am having probs posting a vid respone to this...if u go to my vids...its the 2 called Banjoe and Reply...mainly the Reply vid..thats the one I want u to critique plz..TY

[brummeister1]

I get alot of thumping noise when i clawhammer...like I am drumming on the head...every time i claw and every time i use my thumb....is that okay or do i need tyo slow back down and try to not have that...I am also a bass player and i slapped that alot so my thumb at this point naturally slaps down when my hand is in claw postion... so it sounds like someone playing drums along with me...her..i will try and post a short clip of me doing a simple bum ditty and u break it down for me plz?

TY

[ShipwreckedSOS]

Thank you so much for really slowing this down Mike. To me the sound of the clawhammer style is very deceptive to the mechanics that are actually involved. This was very helpful.

[fightingnate]

you look like the guy from super size me

[dreadedkennedys]

I started playing scruggs style about two months ago and just switched over to clawhammer two or three days ago. I've learned Boil em down and Cripple creek on your website, the tabs are great. I was just wondering what practical reasons are there for using all three of these styles? Do certain ones work better with certain songs?

Thank you

[BlueSageBand]

I've found that this is the case (at least for me). I use all three approaches; which one depends on the needs of the particular song...

[thomasbandy]

What a wonderfully clear and helpful demonstration! I just built my own banjo and am figuring out how to play - this is the best introduction I've seen. Thank you -

[namtsewhsit]

Thanks Mike, I have been told that "it has to be this way!" and I am so happy to see that I have a choice which way and where my thumb wants to be. Please post more.

Newbie:::: :)

[LucyPinrod]

Thanks again Mike! You've been such a great help all throughout my attempts at taming the banjo beast!

[7Midsummer7]

I'm having a very basic problem here, and I didn't know where else I should ask...

I' read on your website that I should be able to hold my banjo without supporting it with my left hand, but it seems somehow impssible to me. My banjo has a wooden back and some sort of metal where my right arm normally rests. So it's a) heavy and b) quite slippery. Is there something I can do about it?

thanks =)

[BlueSageBand]

When seated with the banjo, you have four points of contact to help support the weight of the neck: the trunk of the body, the two legs, and the forearm. Make sure the neck is elevated (45 degrees) as this will also help balance the instrument.

Until this becomes comfortable, try wearing a strap - even while seated. If attached properly (1 or 2 brackets below the neck and 1 or 2 brackets above the tailpiece), the strap will help support the neck until you get the hang of it...

[7Midsummer7]

Okay, thank your very much.

Your website and your videos are wonderful and a great help =)

[JebasHat]

im just beginning banjo and i dont really understand the difference between the three. can somebody highlight the differences between the three in terms of how you play?

[billyshake]

Holy smokes, that was a good video. I've been fighting with this issue just today; thanks, amigo!

[greekflatpicker]

Excellent video.Thank you!

[ChristopherDowning]

21,000 views Mike. Shows you what people appreciate Mike. You're a great communicator and should be doing a whole lot more of this sort of video. Really informative and easy to follow - you're a natural teacher mate.

[Fretkillr]

Very informative. I've got the Pete Seeger book. I've taken my claw hammer to many a banjo. :-)

[BlueSageBand]

I accidentally deleted the following comment when trying to respond:

"clawing the bass notes as opposed to dropping on them is a wasted motion, sure its fine for slower/moderate speed work, but for anything more that strumming slower chords it simply doesn't hold up."

I apologize to whomever posted it and will follow up with a personal response...

Mike

[BlueSageBand]

I welcome all comments pertaining to my videos, but I couldn't quite figure the point of this post since I didn't include any reference to playing on the "bass notes". I also couldn't understand the context in which the word "clawing" was used as this generally refers to all clawhammer technique (strikes, drop-thumb, etc).

[BlueSageBand]

To whomever sent the original post: please send me an email with a more detailed explanation of your post - if I knew exactly what point you were trying to convey, we could then discuss your technique questions and opinions.

Looking forward to hearing from you...

Mike Iverson

[madeinmanchesterr]

he would play banjo

[CarlosMacMartin]

Great video and explanations!

[petsoundspete]

JUST HAD IN SHOP A ZITHER BANJO CIRCA 1900

5STRING IN CASE WITH A.IVERSON LABLED ON CASE - ANY CONNECTION ?

Pet Shop Pete

[BlueSageBand]

Sorry, I've never owned a zither banjo.  Maybe Allen got tired of basketball and took up the banjo...

[Tanhula]

Excellent video-your teaching style is clear, precise, user-friendly. Thanks!

April + Sugar Bayou Band

[mmechill]

this is the first video i have found that is shot from the proper angle to see what your doing.... every other video ive seen they shoot it face on and all you can see is the back of the hand.

Thank you so much!

[bofts]

Thanks

[jefftrix]

thanks mike, very helpful.

[Hophansen]

Great and very helpfull video. i never got further than picking so i am looking forward ge better to clawhammer with the help of you video :)

[bullardsJoe]

wow what a great bass voice. You could sing any trace adkins song if you wanted.

[SpawnofHastur]

Although I'm not a banjo player, I have to thank you for this and your clawhammer banjo website. I'm trying to adapt clawhammer style of playing for my bass guitar, and this is really, really helpful for me.

Mostly single note brushes and drop and double thumbing in my style of play.

[guywolff]

You have a wonderful loose and at ease sound.Your third style with a bit more practice will give you a crisper pallet so I hope you dont throw away the possibilities you could get from exploring it. I love your loose style but the thumb at right angle to the hand can really give you that crisper more driven sound when asked for.Index or Middle finger measures in and out from the thumb in double-thumbing in this style so the double thumb is easy and crisp when needed. All the best Guy

[kykybunny11]

ive been pickin since january of 07 so its been a year and a half for me everything i kno was self taught scrugs style pickin but ive always loved clawhammer but im so used to usein em both it hards for me to decide whichn i like better tahts where im hittin snags

[youenjoymyself1]

is that a chuck lee banjo

[BlueSageBand]

Actually it's an S.S. Stewart banjerine that was built in the early 1890s. I've strung it with Nylgut strings and have tuned it up to "C"...

[youenjoymyself1]

thats really cool, i bet that must have cost a pretty penny

[BlueSageBand]

I've owned it for over twenty years and it actually cost very little when I picked it up. I love the sound of this instrument...

[OzClawhammer]

Thanx for posting

[clawhammerguitar]

very nice of you to do this.

thanks,

steve baughman

[fatherkeith]

I really enjoyed this lesson - makes sense of my problem. I can't keep any rhythm going if I use my index finger and have to pick the first string - I think it must be a tension problem - having to force my finger and and thumb apart. I'm much more comfortable playing with the middle finger -just have to hope it will strengthen given time.

[Oldpiper73]

Mike. Extremely helpful to an old (73) beginner. This is beyond helpful and I'll play it many times. Thanks.

[banjohopeful]

Mike, this is very helpful. If possible could you (or anyone else) add the tuning you are using? so I can work with your videos

Thanks.

[BlueSageBand]

I'm using my banjerine on this video so "G" tuning capoed at fret five would be the equivalent on a "standard" banjo...

[Icosohedron]

Thank you Mike. I tend to "float" my thumb and most places I read that you should not do that. It is reassuring to see a very good player who also "floats" their thumb...maybe there is hope for me.